Dorset businesses urged to talk about the menopause

Dorset Chamber has launched a new business campaign with the aim of breaking down barriers surrounding the menopause in the workplace.

The business support organisation is holding an event on July 29th called ‘Let’s talk about the menopause’ to encourage more open discussion and education about the subject and how it can affect women’s health and their working lives.

Guest speakers at the event include Dr Sarah Hattam, a practising GP and expert on the relationship between health and work. Dr Hattam, founder of the workplace wellbeing consultancy Concilio Health, said “this is an issue which will affect over half the population, but we don’t talk about it.

“It has a negative impact on work for half of those affected but rarely gets mentioned. It’s a perfectly normal phase in a woman’s life but it can also be a bumpy ride and we all need to understand it, recognise it and manage it.”

Ian Girling, Dorset Chamber chief executive, said “I was speaking to someone who explained just how debilitating the menopause had been for her and how it affected her at work. I had a moment of realisation that no-one ever talks about it in the workplace and the affect that it can have. The more I looked into it, the more serious an issue I realised that it was, and that we need to start having conversations about it.”

Ian added “it is particularly important that men in leadership and management roles understand the issue and adopt a culture of support which is not only the right approach in terms of wellbeing but also from a business perspective too.”

To book a place visit the registration page and for Dorset Chamber’s list of further resources, click here.